Patent Application
20240271800
The present subject matter relates generally to air conditioning appliances, and more particularly to assemblies for providing make-up air to air conditioning appliances.
Air conditioner or air conditioning appliance units are conventionally used to adjust the temperature within structures such as dwellings and office buildings. In particular, one-unit type room air conditioner units, such as single-package vertical units (SPVU), may be used to adjust the temperature in, for example, a single room or group of rooms of a structure. A typical one-unit type air conditioner or air conditioning appliance includes an indoor portion and an outdoor portion. The indoor portion generally communicates (e.g., exchanges air) with the area within a building, and the outdoor portion generally communicates (e.g., exchanges air) with the area outside a building. Accordingly, the air conditioner unit generally extends through, for example, an outer wall of the structure. Generally, a fan may be operable to rotate to motivate air through the indoor portion. Another fan may be operable to rotate to motivate air through the outdoor portion. A sealed cooling system including a compressor is generally housed within the air conditioner unit to treat (e.g., cool or heat) air as it is circulated through the indoor portion of the air conditioner unit. One or more control boards are typically provided to direct the operation of various elements of the particular air conditioner unit.
Frequently, the indoor space may need to draw in air from the outdoors (i.e., make-up air). For example, if a vent fan is turned on in a bathroom or air is otherwise ejected from the indoor space, fresh air from the outdoors is required. Depending on, for example, the efficiency of the weather stripping around doors and windows, some make-up air could simply be drawn into the indoors by cracks or other openings. If such cracks are not sufficient, the flow of make-up air may be insufficient or too slow. Furthermore, government regulations, such as air flow regulations, may require that a sufficient flow of make-up air meet a minimum air flow amount. Accordingly, an air conditioner unit that can allow for the introduction of make-up air into the indoor space that meets or exceeds air flow standard amounts would be useful. Moreover, the make-up air supplied to indoor space may be a different temperature than the air already in the indoor space.
As a result, it would be useful to provide an air conditioning appliance that includes features for addressing one or more of the above issues. In particular, it may be advantageous to provide an appliance or assembly with features for treating make-up air supplied to an indoor space.
Aspects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part in the following description, or may be obvious from the description, or may be learned through practice of the invention.
In one exemplary aspect of the present disclosure, a single package air conditioner is provided. The single package air conditioner may include a housing defining an outdoor portion and an indoor portion; an outdoor heat exchanger assembly disposed in the outdoor portion and including an outdoor heat exchanger and an outdoor fan; an indoor heat exchanger assembly disposed in the indoor portion and including an indoor heat exchanger and an indoor fan; an intake conduit extending from the housing and defining a primary air flow path upstream from the indoor heat exchanger assembly and a make-up air (MUA) air flow path, the MUA air flow path being non-sequential with the primary air flow path; a MUA fan provided in the MUA air flow path to selectively urge MUA through the indoor heat exchanger; a heater bank selectively providing heat to the MUA; and a controller provided in the housing and configured to perform an operation. The operation may include determining that a heating operation of the air conditioner is inactive; activating the MUA fan to supply MUA to the indoor heat exchanger while the heating operation is inactive; determining a supplemental heating condition after activating the MUA fan; and activating the heater bank to heat the MUA within the MUA air flow path in response to determining the supplemental heating condition.
In another exemplary aspect of the present disclosure, a method of operating an air conditioner is provided. The air conditioner may include a housing, an outdoor heat exchanger assembly including an outdoor heat exchanger and an outdoor fan, an indoor heat exchanger assembly including an indoor heat exchanger and an indoor fan, an intake conduit defining a make-up air (MUA) air flow path, a MUA fan provided in the MUA air flow path, and a heater bank. The method may include determining that a heating function of the air conditioner is inactive; activating the MUA fan to supply MUA to the indoor heat exchanger while the heating function is inactive; determining a supplemental heating condition after activating the MUA fan; and activating the heater bank to heat the MUA within the MUA air flow path in response to determining the supplemental heating condition.
These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following description and appended claims. The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.
A full and enabling disclosure of the present invention, including the best mode thereof, directed to one of ordinary skill in the art, is set forth in the specification, which makes reference to the appended figures.
Repeat use of reference characters in the present specification and drawings is intended to represent the same or analogous features or elements of the present invention.
Reference now will be made in detail to embodiments of the invention, one or more examples of which are illustrated in the drawings. Each example is provided by way of explanation of the invention, not limitation of the invention. In fact, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the present invention without departing from the scope of the invention. For instance, features illustrated or described as part of one embodiment can be used with another embodiment to yield a still further embodiment. Thus, it is intended that the present invention covers such modifications and variations as come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.
As used herein, the terms “first,” “second,” and “third” may be used interchangeably to distinguish one component from another and are not intended to signify location or importance of the individual components. The terms “includes” and “including” are intended to be inclusive in a manner similar to the term “comprising.” Similarly, the term “or” is generally intended to be inclusive (i.e., “A or B” is intended to mean “A or B or both”). In addition, here and throughout the specification and claims, range limitations may be combined or interchanged. Such ranges are identified and include all the sub-ranges contained therein unless context or language indicates otherwise. For example, all ranges disclosed herein are inclusive of the endpoints, and the endpoints are independently combinable with each other. The singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include plural references unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.
Approximating language, as used herein throughout the specification and claims, may be applied to modify any quantitative representation that could permissibly vary without resulting in a change in the basic function to which it is related. Accordingly, a value modified by a term or terms, such as “generally,” “about,” “approximately,” and “substantially,” are not to be limited to the precise value specified. In at least some instances, the approximating language may correspond to the precision of an instrument for measuring the value, or the precision of the methods or machines for constructing or manufacturing the components or systems. For example, the approximating language may refer to being within a 10 percent margin, i.e., including values within ten percent greater or less than the stated value. In this regard, for example, when used in the context of an angle or direction, such terms include within ten degrees greater or less than the stated angle or direction, e.g., “generally vertical” includes forming an angle of up to ten degrees in any direction, e.g., clockwise or counterclockwise, with the vertical direction V.
The word “exemplary” is used herein to mean “serving as an example, instance, or illustration.” In addition, references to “an embodiment” or “one embodiment” does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment, although it may. Any implementation described herein as “exemplary” or “an embodiment” is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other implementations. Moreover, each example is provided by way of explanation of the invention, not limitation of the invention. In fact, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the present invention without departing from the scope of the invention. For instance, features illustrated or described as part of one embodiment can be used with another embodiment to yield a still further embodiment. Thus, it is intended that the present invention covers such modifications and variations as come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.
Turning now to the figures,
In some embodiments, housing 114 contains various other components of the air conditioner 100. Housing 114 may include, for example, a rear opening 116 (e.g., with or without a grill or grate thereacross) and a front opening 118 (e.g., with or without a grill or grate thereacross) may be spaced apart from each other along the transverse direction T. The rear opening 116 may be part of the outdoor portion 110, while the front opening 118 is part of the indoor portion 112. Components of the outdoor portion 110, such as an outdoor heat exchanger 120, outdoor fan 124, and compressor 126 may be enclosed within housing 114 between front opening 118 and rear opening 116. In certain embodiments, one or more components of outdoor portion 110 are mounted on a base pan 136, as shown.
During certain operations, air may be drawn to outdoor portion 110 through rear opening 116. Specifically, an outdoor inlet 128 defined through housing 114 may receive outdoor air motivated by outdoor fan 124. Within housing 114, the received outdoor air may be motivated through or across outdoor fan 124. Moreover, at least a portion of the outdoor air may be motivated through or across outdoor heat exchanger 120 before exiting the rear opening 116 at an outdoor outlet 130. It is noted that although outdoor inlet 128 is illustrated as being defined above outdoor outlet 130, alternative embodiments may reverse this relative orientation (e.g., such that outdoor inlet 128 is defined below outdoor outlet 130) or provide outdoor inlet 128 beside outdoor outlet 130 in a side-by-side orientation, or another suitable discrete orientation.
As shown, indoor portion 112 may include an indoor heat exchanger 122, a blower fan 142, and a heating unit 132. These components may, for example, be housed behind the front opening 118. A bulkhead 134 may generally support or house various other components or portions thereof of the indoor portion 112, such as the blower fan 142. Bulkhead 134 may generally separate and define the indoor portion 112 and outdoor portion 110 within housing 114. Additionally or alternatively, bulkhead 134 or indoor heat exchanger 122 may be mounted on base pan 136 (e.g., at a higher vertical position than outdoor heat exchanger 120), as shown.
During certain operations, air may be drawn to indoor portion 112 through front opening 118. Specifically, an indoor inlet 138 defined through housing 114 may receive indoor air motivated by blower fan 142. At least a portion of the indoor air may be motivated through or across indoor heat exchanger 122 (e.g., before passing to bulkhead 134). From blower fan 142, indoor air may be motivated (e.g., across heating unit 132) and returned to the indoor area of the room through an indoor outlet 140 defined through housing 114 (e.g., above indoor inlet 138 along the vertical direction V). Optionally, one or more conduits (not pictured) may be mounted on or downstream from indoor outlet 140 to further guide air from air conditioner 100. It is noted that although indoor outlet 140 is illustrated as generally directing air upward, it is understood that indoor outlet 140 may be defined in alternative embodiments to direct air in any other suitable direction.
Outdoor and indoor heat exchanger 120, 122 may be components of a thermodynamic assembly (i.e., sealed system), which may be operated as a refrigeration assembly (and thus perform a refrigeration cycle) or, in the case of the heat pump unit embodiment, a heat pump (and thus perform a heat pump cycle). Thus, as is understood, exemplary heat pump unit embodiments may be selectively operated perform a refrigeration cycle at certain instances (e.g., while in a cooling mode) and a heat pump cycle at other instances (e.g., while in a heating mode). By contrast, exemplary A/C exclusive unit embodiments may be unable to perform a heat pump cycle (e.g., while in the heating mode), but still perform a refrigeration cycle (e.g., while in a cooling mode).
The sealed system may, for example, further include compressor 126 (e.g., mounted on base pan 136) and an expansion device (e.g., expansion valve or capillary tube—not pictured), both of which may be in fluid communication with the heat exchangers 120, 122 to flow refrigerant therethrough, as is generally understood. The outdoor and indoor heat exchanger 120, 122 may each include coils 146, 148, as illustrated, through which a refrigerant may flow for heat exchange purposes, as is generally understood.
It is noted that although a sealed system is described above (e.g., as a thermodynamic assembly), one of ordinary skill in the art would, in light of the present disclosure, understand that such a sealed system may be substituted for other suitable heat-exchange systems, such as a system relying on shape-memory alloys (SMA). For instance, a pair of discrete fluid circuits (e.g., a hot circuit and a cold circuit) each having a discrete volume of heat-carrying fluid (e.g., water, brine, glycol, air, etc.) may be separately connected to a compression unit—the compression unit housing a plurality of plate stacks each having one or more plates formed from one or more SMA material (e.g., copper-nickel-aluminum or nickel-titanium). Separate heat exchangers may generally be provided on the circuits in place of the evaporator and the condenser of a sealed system. In particular, a first heat exchanger may be provided on the cold circuit (e.g., in place of the evaporator) to absorb heat from the adjacent air and impart such absorbed heat to the heat-carrying fluid within the cold circuit. Thus, the first heat exchanger may also be referred to as an “evaporator” herein. Similarly, a second heat exchanger may be provided on the hot circuit (e.g., in place of the condenser) to release heat to the adjacent air from the heat-carrying fluid within the hot circuit. Thus, the second heat exchanger may also be referred to as a “condenser” herein.
The compression unit may facilitate or direct heat between the circuits. As an example, the compression unit may have four discrete plate stacks, each being separately compressed or released by a corresponding mechanical press or vice (e.g., hydraulic ram or electric actuator). During use, the plate stacks may be compressed and released (e.g., alternated between a compressed state or stroke and a released state or stroke) separately such that at any given moment one plate stack is compressed, one plate stack is released, one plate stack is mid-compression, and one plate stack is mid-release. Heat-carrying fluid in the cold circuit may flow through the first heat exchanger, before being directed (e.g., by a series of valves or pumps) into the plate stack that is currently compressed. The compressed plate stack may then be moved to the released state, in turn absorbing heat from the heat-carrying fluid before the heat-carrying fluid within the now-released plate stack is returned to the cold circuit (e.g., to repeat the cycle). In contrast to the cold circuit, heat-carrying fluid in the hot circuit may flow through the second heat exchanger and be directed (e.g., by a separate series of valves or pump) into the plate stack that is currently released. The released plate stack may then be compressed (i.e., moved to the compressed stated), in turn releasing heat from the plate stack to the heat-carrying fluid before the heat-carrying fluid within the now-compressed plate stack is returned to the hot circuit (e.g., to repeat the cycle). The use of four plate stacks may allow both circuits to run continuously.
A plenum 166 may be provided to direct air to or from housing 114. When installed, plenum 166 may be selectively attached to (e.g., fixed to or mounted against) housing 114 (e.g., via a suitable mechanical fastener, adhesive, gasket, etc.)
and extend through a structure wall 150 (e.g., an outer wall of the structure within which air conditioner 100 is installed). For instance, plenum 166 may extend (e.g., parallel to the transverse direction T) through a hole or channel in the structure wall 150 that passes from an internal surface 154 to an external surface 156.
As will be described in greater detail below, a make-up air assembly 200 may be provided to selectively direct outdoor or make-up air to the indoor portion 112. Specifically, make-up air assembly 200 may direct outdoor air through the structure outer or wall 150 of the structure within which air conditioner 100 is installed (e.g., via plenum 166) and to indoor heat exchanger 122 without first directing such outdoor or make-up air through housing 114. To that end, make-up air assembly 200 may include one or more air ducts or conduits (e.g., intake conduit 210 or secondary air duct 212) defining one or more air paths outside of housing 114. During use, the flow of make-up air may thus be fluidly isolated from the flow of air through outdoor portion 110.
Make-up air (MUA) assembly 200 may include a MUA fan 202. MUA fan 202 may be provided within secondary air duct 212, for instance (e.g., upstream from indoor portion 112). MUA fan 202 may urge a flow of MUA through secondary air duct 212 and into the indoor room. In some instances, the MUA air may be urged into indoor portion 112 before entering the indoor room. MUA fan 202 may be an axial fan. However, it should be appreciated that according to alternative embodiments, MUA fan 202 may be positioned at any other suitable location and may be any other suitable fan type, such as a tangential fan, a centrifugal fan, etc. Additionally or alternatively, according to some embodiments, blower fan 142 may operate as MUA fan 202.
In addition, according to an exemplary embodiment, MUA fan 202 is a variable speed fan such that it may rotate at different rotational speeds, thereby generating different air flow rates. In this manner, the amount of air drawn from the ambient outside atmosphere may be continuously and precisely regulated. Moreover, by pulsing the operation of MUA fan 202 or throttling MUA fan 202 between different rotational speeds, the flow of MUA drawn into the indoor room may have a different flow velocity or may generate a different flow pattern within secondary air duct 212. Thus, by pulsating the variable speed fan or otherwise varying its speed, the flow of MUA may be randomized.
The operation of air conditioner 100 including compressor 126 (and thus the sealed system generally), blower fan 142, outdoor fan 124, heating unit 132, and other suitable components may be controlled by a control board or controller 158. Controller 158 may be in communication (via for example a suitable wired or wireless connection) to such components of the air conditioner 100. By way of example, the controller 158 may include a memory and one or more processing devices such as microprocessors, CPUs or the like, such as general or special purpose microprocessors operable to execute programming instructions or micro-control code associated with operation of air conditioner 100. The memory may be a separate component from the processor or may be included onboard within the processor. The memory may represent random access memory such as DRAM, or read only memory such as ROM or FLASH.
Air conditioner 100 may additionally include a control panel 160 and one or more user inputs 162, which may be included in control panel 160. The user inputs 162 may be in communication with the controller 158. A user of the air conditioner 100 may interact with the user inputs 162 to operate the air conditioner 100, and user commands may be transmitted between the user inputs 162 and controller 158 to facilitate operation of the air conditioner 100 based on such user commands. A display 164 may additionally be provided in the control panel 160, and may be in communication with the controller 158. Display 164 may, for example be a touchscreen or other text-readable display screen, or alternatively may simply be a light that can be activated and deactivated as required to provide an indication of, for example, an event or setting for the air conditioner 100.
As noted above, make-up air assembly 200 may be generally provided to selectively direct outdoor air to the indoor portion 112. To that end, make-up air assembly 200 may include an intake conduit 210 that defines an intake passage 214 upstream from indoor inlet 138. As shown, intake conduit 210 extends outward from housing 114. For instance, intake passage 214 may extend along a passage axis X (e.g., horizontal or parallel to the transverse direction T), which the intake conduit 210 generally surrounds or radially bounds. In some such embodiments, intake passage 214 is parallel to passage axis X. When assembled, intake conduit 210 may be mounted to housing 114, such as on an outer surface 230 of housing 114. In turn, intake passage 214 may extend from a primary air inlet 216 (i.e., primary inlet), which is defined as an opening or aperture of intake conduit 210, to indoor inlet 138. Thus, primary air inlet 216 is spaced apart from indoor inlet 138 (e.g., along the transverse direction T). In some embodiments, primary air inlet 216 is coaxial with indoor inlet 138. For instance, both primary air inlet 216 and indoor inlet 138 may be defined along the passage axis X. In turn, intake passage 214 may be a linear passage from primary air inlet 216 to indoor inlet 138.
Generally, primary air inlet 216 defines an airflow cross section (e.g., minimum cross section) along a plane perpendicular to airflow through primary air inlet 216. For instance, in the illustrated embodiments, the airflow cross section of primary air inlet 216 is defined by the dimensions of a height multiplied by a width thereof.
Along with defining primary air inlet 216, intake conduit 210 may define a secondary air inlet 218 (i.e., secondary inlet). In particular, secondary air inlet 218 may be defined separate from primary air inlet 216. When assembled, secondary air inlet 218 may be spaced apart from primary air inlet 216. For instance, secondary air inlet 218 may be defined in fluid parallel (e.g., non-sequential) to primary air inlet 216. Thus, airflow through secondary air inlet 218 to intake passage 214 may be distinct from airflow through primary air inlet 216. Moreover, upstream from intake passage 214, the airflows through secondary air inlet 218 and primary air inlet 216 may be independent from (i.e., not commingled with) each other.
In some embodiments, secondary air inlet 218 is defined along a non-parallel angle relative to primary air inlet 216 (i.e., such that primary air inlet 216 and secondary air inlet 218 are not defined along geometric parallel axes). For instance, secondary air inlet 218 may be defined through intake conduit 210 perpendicular to primary air inlet 216 (e.g., perpendicular to passage axis X). In optional embodiments, secondary air inlet 218 is defined above primary air inlet 216. Thus, airflow through secondary air inlet 218 to intake passage 214 may flow downward. In additional or alternative embodiments, secondary air inlet 218 is closer to indoor inlet 138 (e.g., relative to the passage axis X) than primary air inlet 216. Thus, secondary air inlet 218 may be proximal to indoor inlet 138 while primary air inlet 216 is distal to indoor inlet 138.
Generally, secondary air inlet 218 defines an airflow cross section (e.g., minimum cross section) along a plane perpendicular to airflow through secondary air inlet 218. For instance, in the illustrated embodiments, the airflow cross section of secondary air inlet 218 is defined by the dimensions of a length multiplied by a width thereof. In certain embodiments, the airflow cross section of secondary air inlet 218 is less than the airflow cross section of primary air inlet 216.
As mentioned above, indoor portion 112 may include heating unit 132. Although heating unit 132 is shown adjacent to indoor outlet 140, a specific location of heating unit 132 is not limited to the example or examples given herein. For instance, heating unit 132 may be provided immediately adjacent front opening 118. Additionally or alternatively, heating unit 132 may include one or more individual heaters. Each individual heater may operate at a unique power level. Additionally or alternatively, each individual heater may be an electrical resistance heater. However, the disclosure is not limited to examples given herein, and each individual heater may be any suitable heater.
For instance, heater bank 132 may include a first heater 302 operating at 1000 Watts (W), a second heater 304 operating at 1400 W, and a third heater 306 operating at 2400 W. Accordingly, each heater may support different power applications (e.g., first heater 302 at 15 Amps (A), second heater 304 at 20 A, and third heater 306 at 30 A). Each individual heater may operate as a solo heater or in tandem with any other heater, or both other heaters. For example, first heater 302 is able to operate alone to provide a low level of heat to incoming air, in tandem with second heater 304 to provide an increased amount of heat, in tandem with second heater 304 and third heater 306 to provide a high level of heat, etc.
Heating unit 132 may be operably connected to controller 158. For instance, controller 158 may selectively operate (e.g., activate) heating unit 132 according to a specific input. The input may be a manual input (e.g., a user requesting heated air), an automatic input (e.g., an internal thermostat detecting an indoor temperature below a set temperature), or some combination thereof.
Air conditioner 100 may include an interior temperature sensor 308. For instance, interior temperature sensor 308 may be operably connected with controller 158. Interior temperature sensor 308 may be positioned within the indoor room (e.g., to which air from air conditioner 100 is supplied), or may be attached to air conditioner 100 at an indoor portion thereof. During use, interior temperature sensor 308 may generally sense or measure an atmospheric temperature within the room. Interior temperature sensor 308 may then transmit the atmospheric temperature information to controller 158 (e.g., as one or more interior temperature signals). Interior temperature sensor 308 may be any suitable sensor for measuring the temperature of the air (e.g., thermistor, thermostat, etc.). Accordingly, an interior temperature of the room may be continually monitored.
Air conditioner 100 may include an ambient exterior temperature sensor 310. Ambient exterior temperature sensor 310 may be provided at any suitable location (e.g., at outdoor portion 110), and may be configured to measure a temperature of, for example, an outdoor environment. During use, ambient exterior temperature sensor 310 may send information relating to the ambient exterior temperature to controller 158 (e.g., as one or more exterior temperature signals). Ambient exterior temperature sensor 310 may be any suitable sensor for measuring the temperature of the air (e.g., thermistor, thermostat, etc.). Accordingly, an exterior temperature of the outdoor environment may be continually monitored.
Air conditioner 100 may include a thermostat, or other user interface for initiating one or more modes of air conditioner 100 (e.g., a heating mode, a cooling mode, a dehumidifying mode, a fan only mode, a make-up mode, etc.). Accordingly, users may select, via the interface, to activate air conditioner 100 at a selected time. Additionally or alternatively, the thermostat may include a program set to activate or deactivate air conditioner according to sensed temperatures (e.g., indoor via indoor temperature sensor 308, outdoor via ambient exterior temperature sensor 310, etc.). Thus, air conditioner 100 may be selectively activated or deactivated actively or passively. When MUA air is supplied (e.g. via MUA assembly 200), to the indoor room, air conditioner 100 may be active or inactive as will be explained below.
Now that the general descriptions of an exemplary air conditioner appliance have been described in detail, a method 400 of operating an appliance (e.g., air conditioner appliance 100) will be described in detail. Although the discussion below refers to the exemplary method 400 of operating air conditioner appliance 100, one skilled in the art will appreciate that the exemplary method 400 is applicable to any suitable domestic appliance capable of performing an air treatment operation (e.g., such as a vertical air conditioner, a packaged terminal air conditioner, a portable air conditioner, etc.). In exemplary embodiments, the various method steps as disclosed herein may be performed by controller 158 or a separate, dedicated controller.
At step 402, method 400 may include determining that a heating operation of the air conditioner is inactive. In detail, the air conditioner (e.g., air conditioner 100) may be inactive, or otherwise not performing an air treatment operation. For instance, a sealed system within the air conditioner may be held in an inactive state. In turn, the sealed system may not be performing a conditioning cycle (e.g., heating, cooling, dehumidifying) on incoming air (e.g., to an indoor room). For example, a controller determines that refrigerant is not being pumped or urged through the sealed system, one or more blower fans are not active (e.g., not rotating or otherwise not actively motivating air thereacross), a compressor is not operating, etc. Thus, the air conditioner may be deemed to be in an “off” or inactive setting or state. Moreover, method 400 may determine that one or more additional heaters (e.g., heating unit 132) are inactive. For instance, the additional heaters may not be providing heat or may not be currently supplied with power.
At step 404, method 400 may include activating a make-up air (MUA) fan to supply MUA to the indoor heat exchanger while the heating operation is inactive (e.g., according to an unrelated triggering event or a predetermined schedule). In detail, upon determining that the heating operation is inactive (e.g., the sealed system is not in operation, an air handler or fan is inactive, etc.), method 400 may determine that MUA is required to be supplied into the indoor room. For instance, an MUA trigger may activate the MUA fan or otherwise direct MUA into the air conditioner. According to some embodiments, the MUA trigger includes determining that the indoor room to which the MUA is to be supplied is occupied. Accordingly, the MUA fan may be in an activated state whenever the indoor room is occupied. For instance, one or more sensors operably connected to the controller may determine an occupied state of the indoor room. As mentioned above, a MUA assembly (e.g., MUA assembly 200) may selectively direct outdoor air to the indoor portion. The MUA may be supplied to the indoor portion when the air conditioner is not operational. For instance, a MUA fan (e.g., MUA fan 202) may selectively operate to draw in additional air (make-up air) into the indoor room when no air conditioner mode (e.g., heating, cooling, etc.) is active.
At step 406, method 400 may include determining a supplemental heating condition after activating the MUA fan. In detail, upon determining that MUA is required for the indoor room (e.g., subsequent or in response to the same), method 400 may include evaluating a supplemental heating state. Thus, one or more operations may be performed to determine whether a supplemental heating condition is present. The supplemental heating condition may include a signal indicating that additional or pre-heating is required or desired. For instance, the supplemental heating condition may include a current outdoor temperature (e.g., as measured by an outdoor temperature sensor).
According to at least one embodiment, step 406 includes determining that the outdoor temperature is below a predetermined temperature limit. As mentioned above, the air conditioner may be operably connected with an outdoor temperature sensor. The outdoor temperature sensor may routinely relay the outdoor temperature to, for instance, a controller of the air conditioner during operation. According to one example, as the MUA fan is activated, the air conditioner may request the outdoor temperature from the outdoor temperature sensor. Upon receiving the outdoor temperature, method 400 may include comparing the outdoor temperature (e.g., current outdoor temperature) against the predetermined temperature limit.
The predetermined temperature limit may be between about 40° Fahrenheit (F) and about 50° F. Accordingly, method 400 may determine that the outdoor temperature is below the predetermined temperature limit. For example, the supplemental heating condition is determined to be triggered when the outdoor temperature is below 40° F. It should be understood that the value or range of the predetermined temperature limit is not limited to the examples given herein, and that any suitable temperature value may be used as the predetermined temperature limit.
In another embodiment, the supplemental heating condition includes obtaining an outlet temperature of air at the indoor outlet (e.g., indoor outlet 140) and determining that the outlet temperature of the air is less than an indoor set temperature (e.g., by a predetermined delta limit). For instance, the air may include recirculated room air and MUA. In detail, the air conditioner may include an outlet temperature sensor provided at the indoor outlet. The indoor outlet may be the indoor room inlet register, for instance. Accordingly, the outlet temperature sensor may sense a temperature of the room air (e.g., recirculated air and MUA) as it is being supplied to the indoor room. The outlet temperature may be sent to the controller of the air conditioner. Upon receiving the outlet temperature, method 400 may compare the outlet temperature against the indoor set temperature.
The temperature of the indoor room may be monitored or maintained by a thermostat. Accordingly, a user may input a set temperature (e.g., at the thermostat) at which to maintain the indoor room atmosphere. In comparing the outlet temperature against the indoor set temperature, method 400 may determine that the outlet temperature is less than the indoor set temperature by a predetermined delta limit. According to some embodiments, the delta limit is between about 4° F. and 7° F. As would be understood, the delta limit is not limited to the examples given herein, and any suitable delta limit may be used. Accordingly, for one example, the supplemental heating condition is determined to be triggered when the outlet temperature is less than the indoor set temperature by at least 5° F. Accordingly, in conjunction with a heating mode of the air conditioner being inactive, when the supplemental heating condition is determined, method 400 may proceed to step 408.
At step 408, method 400 may include activating the heater bank to heat the MUA. In some embodiments, the heater bank (e.g., one or more heaters included in the heater bank) is activated to heat a combination of the recirculated air and the MUA. In detail, in response to both determining the supplemental heating condition and determining that the air conditioner is not performing a heating operation (e.g., a heating mode is inactive), method 400 may activate at least one heater (e.g., first heater 302, second heater 304, third heater 306) within a heater bank (e.g., heating unit 132). For one example, a low power heater (e.g., first heater 302 at 1000 W) is activated upon receiving the supplemental heating condition. As described above, the heater bank or heating unit may be provided along an air flow path of the MUA. Additionally or alternatively, the heater bank may be provided along an air flow path of a combination of recirculated air and MUA. Thus, the heater bank may provide heat to the MUA before the MUA is supplied to the indoor room (e.g., together with recirculated air). Advantageously, when the air conditioner is not at an “on” state (e.g., not performing a heating operation via the heating unit or the sealed system), the MUA provided to the indoor room may be supplied at a comfortable temperature such that occupants of the room are not inconvenienced despite the air conditioner not performing the heating operation.
This written description uses examples to disclose the invention, including the best mode, and also to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the invention, including making and using any devices or systems and performing any incorporated methods. The patentable scope of the invention is defined by the claims, and may include other examples that occur to those skilled in the art. Such other examples are intended to be within the scope of the claims if they include structural elements that do not differ from the literal language of the claims, or if they include equivalent structural elements with insubstantial differences from the literal languages of the claims.
